Device for lighting gun-sights.



PATENTED JUNHZS. 1903.

H. SGHLAEGEL. In DEVICE FOR LIGHTING GUN SIGHTS.

APPLIOATION TILED MAY 8, 1902.

N0 MODEL M-ed NITED STATES Patented June 23, 1903.

DEVICE FOR LIGHTING GUN-SIGHTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 731,712, dated June23, 1903.

Application filed May 8, 1902. Serial No. 106,404. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HANS SCHLAEGEL, a subject of the German Emperor,residing at 5 Ladoucettestrasse, in the city of Metz, Alsace-Lorraine,in the German Empire, have invented a certain new and useful Improvementin Devices for Illuminating Sights of Firearms by Electricity, of whichthe following is a specification, such as will enable others skilled inthe art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of my invention is to provide means for illuminating thefront and rear sights of small firearnissuch as guns, rifles,

and the like-by electricity, so as to make it possible to take the aimwith reasonable exactness even in the dark without betraying theposition of the shooter. \Vith this point in view the front and rearsights of the gun are each provided with a laterally-arrangedincandescent lamp, the circuit of which is so arranged that the shooterin taking the aim can by the operation of a contact by his left hand asit holds the gun close the electric circuit, so as to throw a lightsimultaneously upon the front and rear sights of the gun while takingthe aim. In this operation it is, however, of extreme importance toavoid any dazzling of the eyes of the shooter, and, on the other hand,it is necessary to so arrange the light that the enemy or the animalthat is to be shot will not bcadvised of the position of the shooter orbecome scared. 'lhese difticulties are avoided in which is especiallyintended to prevent any dazzling of the eyes of the shooter and thedisclosing of the position occupied by the shooter, respectively.

My improved device for lighting the sights of guns is shown. in twornis, together with some constructional (lei s, on the accompanyingdrawings. V i

Said invention "uiiyshown and described in the following specification,of which the accompanying drawn s form a part, wherein similar lGtZQlSof relorence designate like or equivalent parts wherever foundthroughout the several views, and in which- Figure l is a side View ot amilitary smallarin riile provided with my improved sightilluniinatingdevices. Fig. '1' is alike view of a rifle provided with a circuit ofexamine-tors,

my invention,

including a switch and battery therein from which the illuminating-lampshave been re moved, and as such rifle appears when in condition forday-time use. Fig. 3 is a front or face view of my improved form of lampfor illuminating sights. Fig. 4 is a side view of such lamp in centralvertical section. Fig. 5 shows in sectional side view and full exteriorside view and taken apart the movable lens and light-shielded lamp usedby me with adjustable or elevating rear sights, and Fig. 6 is a view ofa lamp of somewhat modified form of construction provided with a shieldthat is removable.

Referring to the drawings, a and Z) are clamps or clutches, each ofwhich has a glowlamp a and b, attached to it laterally and which may bedisposed along the barrel of the gun or rifle, so as to throw a stronglight upon the sight 0 and the adjustable rear sight (I from each of theglow-lamps as soon as the circuit is established. Both clasps and thecarbons of the glow-lamps are connected by insulated conductor-wires ofwith a battery carried by the sh00ter,the return-conductor f beingconnected to any suitable switching de vice of known construction whichis attached to athird clamp g or which may be attached to the clamp 12used for lighting the adjustable elevating or rear sight, thepress-button of this switch being operated by the shooter when holdingthe rifle inthe position of taking aim by the thumb of his left ,hand.In this form of construction of my invention, however, theconductor-wires are liable to interfere with the handling of the rifleor they may be injured when the rifle is carried through the woods or bysimilar obstacles on the way. These inconveniences are avoided in theform of construction shown in Fig. 2

of the drawings. In this modification the conductor-wires c j areembedded in the wooden casing of the gun-barrel and the dry battery usedas a current-generator is interchangeably mounted in the butt'end of therifle or gun. The switch is included in the returnconductorf in such amanner that its pressbutton h is just in the place where the rifle whenin position for firing is grasped by the hand, so as to effect a closingof, the circuit while taking aim and to cause the illumination of thesights. The glow-lamps may he provided with clamps the same as in theconstruction shown in Fig. 1 of thedrawings, these clamps being placedupon the barrel and constituting the electric copnection with thecarbons of the glow-lamps. The latter arrangement is not made use ofinthe modification shown in Fig. 2, but small holes is in iihe woodencasing are used instead, which v serve for the reception of thewell-known l0 plug-contacts and which, being in. electric,

v lation interfering withsteadyaiming, still the efficiency of therifle, and in particular when used before the enemy, is impaired by thedazzling of the 'eye of the shooter by the glaring though small light ofthe glow-lamps and by the possibility of betraying the position of therays shooter in this manner; yet it isnecessaryto throw as intense alight as possible upon the sightaud the adj ustabler'ear'sight, inasmuchas otherwise the outlines of thesepartsdo not present themselves whichin turn would result in exact aiming. The inconvenience referred to isavoided in my invention by inclosing the glow-lamps by a casing 11, ofopaque or light-subduing ma, terial, which surrounds the glow-lamp onall sides, Fig. 3, but for an opening I, directed toward the adjacentsight, so as to allow the projected through this opening to strong ylight such sight. When so arranged, the-light is prevented from dazzlingthe eyesof the shooter and can be seen. by the enemy only at extremelyclose range. As a result I may use glow-lamps of very strongilluminating power, or in .the case of weaker lamps I may concentratethe light by arranging a lens m, Fig. 4, in the opening of the casing i,so as to throw a light of su iiicieut intensity upon the adjacent sight.In lighting the adjustable elevating or rear sight, however, it becomesnecessary to change the direction of the rays of light with theadjustment and the changeof position of the sight. In. view of this thelighting device for this sight is also made'adjustable. In the preferredform of construction shown in Fig. 5 of the drawin s the casing or hoodi of theglow-lamp is ma e adjustable, inasm uch as it is capable ofrotatingin a horizontaland'vertical direction with relation to. tholamp.For this purpose the fitting of the glow-lamp is tightly covered by adish-shaped bottom part 2', and on this is fitted the upper part of thecovering, which constitutes the casing 11 proper and which is providedwith spring-acting projections, so as the sights in the manner mandivided, the parts each other by the curved spring 0, the said withsuflicient exactness to enable it to be fitted over the dish-like bottompart t". By this meansthe cone of light may be adjusted with greatfacility and exactly correspondingto the position of the sight. To therotatable upper part 'i an arm n is-attached, as shown in Fig. 50f thedrawings, which extends across the stationary portion of the rear sightand into the path of the adjustable portion or sight-leaf, such adjustable portion or sight-leaf on being raised striking against. the saidarm n, which is moved thereby, giving a rotation in a verticaldi'reclioh to the casing or he .11 i in consequence. By this means whenI. Zensm or the' opening in'the casing has been properly arranged I amable toautomatical'ly direct the light exactly upon the sight-notch ofthe rear sight'at whatever height the same may be situated. There is-nonecessity of such adjustment forthe front sight, and. in this case themore simple construction shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is .suflicient.

In order to facilitate the mounting of the hood or casing, t' upon theglow-lamp b and in order to'avoid the necessity of renewing the casingonhood on replacing a worn-out mp. two sections, 'asshown in Fig. 6 ofthe drawings. In, this modification the casingi is verbeing connected tospring pressing thetwo sections againsteach other and securing them inposition upon the lamp, while an upward pull will besuflicient toremovethe casing from the lamp, the

spring 0 acting as a handle.

'What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is j 1. An' electric glow-lam p for use in illuminatingfirearm-sights provided with an opaque movable covering carrying a lensfor transmitting the light, substantially as shown and described. v v

2. The combination with a firearm, of a circuit of conductors havingincluded therein a it is preferable to make the casing in,

battery and a switch, a front sight, and a glow-lam p also included in'the circuit located adjacent to the front sight adapted to cast a beamof light upon the front sight when the circuit is closed withoutillumination in any its other direction, an adjustable or elevating rearsight, a glow-lamp adjacent to the rear sight also included in thecircuit, an opaque hood covering the lamp and adjustable there on, and alens carried bythe hood for directiug a beam of light upon therearsight, substantially as shown anddescribed. 3. The combination witha firearm, of a circuit of conductors having included thereina batteryand a switch, a front sight, a glowlan p also included in thecircuitlocated adjacent to the front sight adapted to cast a beam oflight upon the front sight when the circuit is closedwithoutillumination in any other directioman adjustable or elevatingrear sight, a glow-lamp adjacent to the rear sight also included in thecircuit, an opaque rected upon the sight at all times, substantially asshown and described.

4. The combination witha firearm, of a circuit of conductors havingincluded therein a battery and a switch, a front sight, a glowlamp alsoincluded in the circuit located adjacent to the front sight adapted tocast a beam of light upon the front sight when the circuit is closedwithout illumination in any other direction, an adjustable or elevatingrear sight, at glow-lamp adjacent to the rear sight also included in thecircuit, an opaque hood covering the lamp and adjustable thereon, a lenscarried by the hood for directinga beam of light upon the rear sight,and means i for moving the hood in actuating connection with the movingportion 'of the rear sight whereby the beam of light will fall upon thesight in all positions thereof, substantially as shown and described.

5. The combination with a firearm, of a circuit of conductors havingincluded therein a battery and a switch, a front sight, a glowlamp alsoincluded in the circuit located adjacent to the front sight adapted tocast a beam of light upon the front sight when the circuit is closed, anadjustable or elevating rear sight, a glow-lamp adjacent to the rearsight also included in the circuit, an opaque movable hood inclosing therear-sight lamp, and a light-transmitting lens carried by the movablehood for directing a beam of light upon the rear sight, substantially asshown and described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in'presence of twowitnesses.

HANS SCHLAEGEL.

Witnesses: g

' JOHAN Nos,

MAX ADLER.

